Shaunna O'Connell, state reps say Mass. has wasted $2B

Marking the anniversary of the most recently enacted Beacon Hill tax increase, on Thursday ballot activists hoping to repeal the measure indexing the gas tax to inflation released a “State House Tab” delineating areas where they say state government has “wasted” $2 billion.

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By State House News Service

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By State House News Service

Posted Jul. 17, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Updated Jul 17, 2014 at 11:43 PM

By State House News Service
Posted Jul. 17, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Updated Jul 17, 2014 at 11:43 PM

» Social News

BOSTON — Marking the anniversary of the most recently enacted Beacon Hill tax increase, on Thursday ballot activists hoping to repeal the measure indexing the gas tax to inflation released a “State House Tab” delineating areas where they say state government has “wasted” $2 billion.

The mock tab, printed to appear like a retail receipt and signed by “Hardworking Taxpayers,” places a $332 million cost on the state’s crime lab evidence tampering scandal, a $500 million cost on the state’s failed health exchange website and related insurance coverage problems, and says welfare fraud has cost $200 million.

The tab also lists $175 million in health costs associated with “ineligible” residents, and describes as waste the $9 million makeover of Gov. Deval Patrick’s office and $2.6 million for transgender reassignment coverage.

Republican state Reps. Shaunna O’Connell of Taunton, Lenny Mirra of West Newbury, Marc Lombardo of Billerica, Jim Lyons of Andover and Geoff Diehl of Whitman are pressing for passage of the anti-indexing measure, Question 1.

Indexing law supporters say it will help the gas tax hold some of its purchasing power and help Massachusetts meet some of its infrastructure repair needs.

“One year ago the House voted to raise taxes. Our focus should be on stopping the wasting of tax dollars rather than raiding the wallets of the hard-working taxpayers,” Mirra said in a statement.

Last year’s tax hike was originally designed to generate $500 million in new annual taxes, but lawmakers quickly revisited their tax law and excised a new tax on technology services.